Background*

Mr. Sumner M. Redstone is the Founder of CBS Corporation. Mr. Redstone serves as the President of NAIRI Inc. Mr. Redstone has been the Chief Executive Officer of National Amusements, Inc. since 1967 and served as its President from 1967 to 1999. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Viacom International Inc. since 1996. He served as the Chief Executive Officer at CBS Corporation from 1996 to 2005. He served as Law Secretary with the U.S. Court of Appeals, and then ... as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General. In October 1996, Mr. Redstone was appointed by President Clinton to the position of Chairman of the Corporate Commission on Education Technology whose mission is to advance the quality of education in the United States through the use of technology. He also has served as a Judge on the Foundation's select committee to award the annual John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, each year since the Award's inception in 1990. Mr. Redstone served in the Military Intelligence Division during World War II. He was a Partner with the law firm of Ford, Bergson, Adams, Borkland and Redstone in Washington, D.C. In 1954, he joined National Amusements, Inc., which he then organized into the successful company it is today. He taught at the University of San Francisco. He has been a Frequent lecturer at colleges, including Harvard Law School. Since 1994, he has been a Visiting Professor at Brandeis University. Mr. Redstone founded Viacom, Inc. on January 01, 2006 and has been its Executive Chairman of the Board since January 01, 2006. He has been Chairman of National Amusements, Inc. since 1986. he serves as Chairman of the board of Viacom International Inc., a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. since 1987. He serves as the Chairman of NAIRI Inc. He has been Chairman of the board of MTVi Group, Inc. since February 2000 and CBS Corporation since January 1, 2006. He serves as Honorary Chairman of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation. He served as Chairman of the Jimmy Fund (Children's Cancer Research Foundation). He served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Division of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Mr. Redstone served as the first Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Theatre Owners. He served as Chairman of the Board of Spelling Entertainment Group Inc. since January 1996 and served as its Director since November 1994. He serves as Director of National Amusements, Inc. and MTVi Group, Inc. Mr. Redstone has been a Director at CBS Corporation since 1986. He has been Director of Viacom, Inc. since January 1, 2006. He served as a Director of Blockbuster Inc. from May 1999 to October 16, 2004. During 1984, he served as a Director of the Kennedy Presidential Library Foundation. He was a Director of BB Liquidating Inc. from May 1999 to October 16, 2004. He serves as the Board of Trustee for The Museum of Television and Radio. Since 1982, he has been a member of the faculty of Boston University Law School, where he has lectured on entertainment law. He is a member of the Board of Overseers of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He is a member of Corporation of the Massachusetts General Hospital and is on the Board of Overseers of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. He is a member of the Executive Board of the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston. He was a member of Corporation of the New England Medical Center. Subsequently, During the Carter Administration, he was appointed a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee of the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mr. Redstone is a Member of the Advisory Council for the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Foundation. While a student at Harvard, he was selected by Japanese history professor Edwin Reischauer (later Ambassador to Japan) to join a special intelligence group whose mission was to break Japan's high-level military and diplomatic codes. In connection with these activities, he received, among other honors, two commendations from the Military Intelligence Division in recognition of his service, contribution and devotion to duty. He is also a recipient of the Army Commendation Award. Mr. Redstone's education began at Boston Latin School. He graduated from Harvard University in 1944 and received an LL.B. from Harvard University School of Law in 1947. In May 1994, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws from Boston University. In 1982, he joined the faculty of the Boston University School of Law, where he created one of the nation's first courses in entertainment law.

Our data partners will research the update request and update the information on this page if necessary. Research and follow-up could take several weeks. If you have questions, you can contact them at bwwebmaster@businessweek.com.